Step Inside Stratford's New Brewery: Two Roads

There's a new brewery in town: Two Roads Brewery. There is a lot of buzz and the opening is much anticipated. I recenlty got the opportunity to have a sneak peek at the brewery and their beers.

I've visited quite a few breweries, well-known, little-known, large and small. So, when I visited Two Roads I had some idea of what to expect.

Because of the size of the building Two Roads is housed in I knew it was going to be big, but when I walked in I wasn't quite prepared for the enormity of it all.   WOW, this place is very impressive, especially for a start up.

Some of the better known breweries I've been to don't have the brewing capacity that Two Roads has -- over 100 barrels to start -- and they haven't even opened their doors yet.

Not all the beer they hope to be brewing is their own. They are planning to contract out to other breweries until they grow enough to fill the tanks with all their own brews.

The brewery is housed in the century-and-a-half old U.S. Baird manufacturing building. They've made an effort to retain and incorporate many of the original features of the building: chain pulls, the woodwork, and one really big fan.

The integration of the old and the new is an interesting metaphor for how Two Roads is combining the ancient art of brewing beer utilizing state-of-the-art equipment.

In fact, the gorgeous bar top in the tasting room utilizes the wood bricks that were removed from the floor and the sides of the bar are made from wood they cut from the floor to accommodate the tanks.

They've done a remarkable job. The tasting room is beautiful and spacious. Tables and chairs throughout, sidebar with stools and the magnificent bar itself overlooking the brewery through floor to ceiling glass panels.

I also got the opportunity to sample a few of their beers. Looking at the tap heads I thought the names for the beers were very clever; inspired by local people, places and things.

I got to taste three of their beers: Holiday Ale (Bière de Garde or strong pale ale), Honeyspot Road (white IPA), and Road 2 Ruin (double IPA). The beers were delicious; obviously handcrafted with care and love. I'm looking forward to trying the forthcoming Two Roads offerings. If what I sampled was any indication of what to expect, I know I won't be disappointed.

The tasting room will be open by mid-December and I can't wait!

Two Roads will be open to the public every day except Monday. Tuesday through Thursday, 3 to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  There will be snacks for sale in the tasting room and there will be food trucks parked out front on Fridays and Saturdays offering more substantial food stuff. Tours will be available Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

I think Two Roads will be a great addition to our town. I wish them success. Their motto is "a road less traveled." This is a road I plan on travelling quite often. I'm looking forward to watching them grow and, of course, drinking more of their beer.